Shah Porir Dwip, the very southern border of Bangladesh. Nothing else there, only a vast expanse of water. Surrounding it are the turbulent waves of the Bay of Bengal. If you look far, you can see fishermen’s boats fishing in the sea.
There is nothing else, no one else. Shah Porir Dwip (Shapuree Island) is located at the southernmost part of the mainland of Bangladesh.It is said that the name of the island comes from ‘Pori’ from Shah Shuja’s wife, Poribonu, and ‘Shah’ from Shah Shuja himself. Another opinion is that the island is named after Shah Farid Aulia. Many such histories about the naming of Shah Porir Dwip are prevalent among the locals.
It is a village in the Sabrang Union of Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar. It is about 15 kilometers from Teknaf. The main occupations of the island’s population of 40,000 are fishing and salt cultivation. The island has markets, schools, madrasas, mosques, etc. It is said that although it is connected to the mainland now, it was an island in the past.
There is no lifeguard on Shah Porir Dwip, and there is no system to determine the high and low tides of the sea. Therefore, you must find out the times of the tides on your own initiative if you want to go into the sea. Definitely avoid going into the sea during low tide.
How to go to Shah Porir Dwip:
From Dhaka, you can go directly to Teknaf by bus. Alternatively, from Dhaka, you can go to Cox’s Bazar by any bus and then from there to Teknaf. From Cox’s Bazar, buses leave for Teknaf from 6 AM until 8 PM. During the rainy season, the bus departure times may vary. It takes about two to two and a half hours to travel the roughly 80 kilometers. Bus fare per person is 140 taka. Or, you can go to Teknaf from Cox’s Bazar by local or reserved CNG.
In the dry season, it takes 40 to 45 minutes to go to Shah Porir Dwip by CNG from Teknaf. During the rainy season, after traveling half the distance by CNG, you may have to hire a boat or trawler for 20 to 30 taka per person. The fare for CNG from Teknaf to Shah Porir Dwip is 100 taka per person. The CNG stops in front of the Shah Porir Dwip jetty, and from there you can walk to Golar Char.
What to see on Shah Porir Dwip:
Shah Porir Dwip has three sea beaches. From this island, you can see Myanmar’s Mongdu province and the Arakan mountains and Saint Martin Island. Here, you can find inspiration in the fishermen’s lives as they struggle to survive with the sea. You will also see vast lands of salt cultivation.
Moreover, on the way to Shah Porir Dwip, you can see the Rohingya settlements, indigenous villages, mountain caves, and Mathin’s well. If you wish, you can also visit Saint Martin Island by trawler or boat. Additionally, you can set up camping on Shah Porir Dwip. There is a BDR post and a watchtower on Shah Porir Dwip.
